Hit-and-Run Crash on G Street in Merced
Officials in Merced reported a hit-and-run crash involving a female pedestrian on G Street on the night of Monday, June 6, 2022. The incident took place at the intersection of 26th Street and G Street at approximately 9:00 p.m.
Details on the Hit-and-Run Crash on G Street in Merced
The Merced Police Department (Merced PD) reported that a woman was walking in the area when she was hit by a vehicle described as a silver BMW. The driver allegedly fled the scene following the incident. The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. An update regarding her condition has not yet been released. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact Merced PD.
What Steps Should You Take After a Pedestrian Accident?
Walking in Merced can be dangerous. When involved in an accident as a pedestrian, it is essential to act quickly, particularly if there are injuries reported. The actions you take in the aftermath of a pedestrian accident may have a significant influence on the outcome of a bodily injury claim should you decide to move forward with filing one against the at-fault party and their insurance company. With this information in mind, it is recommended to follow these steps after getting hit by a motor vehicle while walking:
- Call 911: If there are injuries involved, call 911 to request an ambulance at the scene for assistance. If you were not hospitalized for your injuries, be sure to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to document your symptoms and injuries. This way, there will be medical records documenting that your injuries occurred from the incident and not from another cause.
- Contact Local Law Enforcement: Having a police report in hand after a pedestrian crash is helpful when bringing a claim with the insurance carrier. That is because a responding officer will collect all information from parties involved in the crash and create an official record of the incident that may be later requested from their office. A traffic incident report is often utilized by the insurer to confirm the sequence of events leading up to the wreck to determine who was responsible. Without this report, it can be challenging because the other side may dispute liability for the accident. Conversely, officials can also work to track down a hit-and-run driver.
- Gather Important Information: While authorities will collect information from parties involved in the pedestrian accident, it is essential for you to do the same for your own records. This is especially true given that traffic incident reports may take up to 10 days for processing. It is recommended to gather information such as the names, contact information, driver’s license, insurance policy information, and license plate numbers for all vehicles and parties involved. If there were any eyewitnesses to the hit-and-run crash, be sure to take down their contact information as well.
- Collect Evidence: Pictures and videos of the accident scene may be invaluable, especially when it comes to establishing liability for the incident. If possible, try to capture the collision site, skid marks in the road if there are any, damage to the vehicles involved, roadway signage, and physical injuries. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and they may help in a personal injury case should there be any disputes later in the process.
- Report the Incident: It is crucial that a pedestrian accident be reported to your insurance company immediately. Failure to do so may result in the denial of coverage that may be available to you, such as UM coverage, that may help pay for damages resulting from a hit-and-run accident. Keep the details to a minimum, do not agree to a recorded statement, and do not sign any paperwork. Politely direct the claims adjuster to your accident attorney if you have one.
- Contact an Attorney: Given that each motor vehicle collision is different, it is essential to discuss your case in detail with an experienced Merced pedestrian accident lawyer immediately. That is because the insurance company representing the other side, and even your own insurer, may act quickly to work against you to downplay the value of your case or outright deny it. Unlike the insurance carrier, you can depend on your injury lawyer to seek the fair compensation you deserve. In the event of a hit-and-run accident where officials have not yet tracked down the suspect driver, you can rely on your attorney to utilize their resources to work with private investigators to locate the at-fault party and hold them liable for damages incurred.
For tips and suggestions on how to select a top attorney in your area to handle your injury case, watch this video.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced personal injury attorney. No one looks forward to getting into a pedestrian accident. Unfortunately, they are all too common in Merced and throughout California. It is normal to feel overwhelmed after a traffic collision, and our experienced accident attorneys understand that. When you are ready to discuss your case, our legal team will be here to lend a listening ear. Get started now with free, friendly case advice by calling (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
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